The Real Dirt

Flowers blooming

The Real Dirt blog covers regional gardening issues from soil health to planting for pollinators; from fire resistant landscaping to attracting wildlife. Read all about it!

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Catalina perfume, Cindy Weiner
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Native Plants for Shade

June 15th, 2018
By Cindy Weiner, UC Master Gardener of Butte County, June 15, 2018 On our hot summer days, shady garden areas can offer welcome respite from the heat.
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Fire blight on pear fruit, J. Alosi
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Oh, No, Not Fire Blight!

June 1st, 2018
By Lynnde Sharpton, UC Master Gardener of Butte County, June 1, 2018 If you notice droopy, dried-out flower clusters on your pears, Asian pears, quince, apples or crabapples, fire blight may be the cause.
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Mexican free-tailed bat surrounded by young
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For the Love of Bats

May 4th, 2018
By Laura Lukes, UC Master Gardener of Butte County, May 4, 2018. Years ago, while standing at the mouth of a large cave, Dr. Shahroukh Mistry felt his face kissed by air that was stirred by the movement of millions of bat wings.
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